Method of treating porous blocks.



C. E. FULLER.

METHOD OF TREATING POROUS BLOCKS.

APPLlcAUoN FILED ocT.9.1915.

1,176,284. Patented Mar. 21, 1911;.

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

C. E. FULLER.

METHGD 0F TREATING POROUS BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.9.1915.

1,176,284. Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. E. FULLER.

METHOD 0F TREATING POROUS BLOCKS.

APPLICATION man ocT. 9. w15.

l, 176,284. Patented Mail. 21, 1916.

Y( 02 3 SHEETSSHEET 3- \q CLAUD E. FULLER, 0F KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI METHOD 0F TREATING POROUS BLOCKS.

Application mea october s, i915.

To all tlf/1,0m yit may Concern:

Be it known that l, Crown E. FULLER, a citizen ot' the l'nited States. residing at Kansas City, in the county ot Jackson and State ot' Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Methods of T reating Porous Blocks. ot' which the following is a specification, h

My invention relates to improvements 1n methods ot treating porous blocks.

lt relates to the treating ot' porous paving blocks. such as bricks, consisting in filling the pores ot' the blocks. with material. such as liquid bitumen. preferably in the torni ol asphalt, whereby the blocks will be ren dered very durable and impervimis to mois ture, will have their resiliency increased, and when used lor street paving will be comparauvely noiseless under trallic con ditions.

In Letters Patent. Numbers 1,063,964 and 1.063.965. issued to me .lune 10th. i913, there are described a method and apparatusl for treating paving block:u in which the blocks are first heated. at'ter which the air is hausted therefrom. following! which the blocks are immersed in liquid bitumen. the blocks heine' held under pressure greater than atmospheric during such immersion. atter which the innnersing fluid is withdrawn from the immersing chamber and the blocks permitted to cool, while still under pressure. until the bitumen contained in the bloeks has'l solidified. The coolingf et' the blocks while held in the immersion chamber under prcesaire consumes an extemded period ot time. dorm;r which the treatment, ol other blocks in the saine bandi-r cannot he proremit-ii .viii, 'i treayunt under .such process and uit i sui-h apparatus there llore. eprinlive and the production greatly limited. li' the blot-ils are removed from the innneision chamber to permit ot the use of the chamber 'tor the imn'iersion ot other blocks. and the blocks which have been im mersed are lett in the open air, the asphalt coating on the extrrior ot' ihr liliaks will quickly cool and folidilv and the lah-reife viii he stur-,lz together in 1 'solid mass.

The olgiert of my present ,ration is 'to provide a novel and improved method o'- treatmeni 'which will greatly herease ein costl ol' treatmenty and hv which the outpu will be largely inrreawel.

ln my present method of treatn'ient, the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

serial No. 55,063.

blocks or bricks after saturation With the liquid bitumen. are gradually cooled at a temperature below the melting point of the asphalt and above the ordinary atmospheric temperature, the cooling being effected at substantially atmospheric pressure. As the blocks are gradually cooled, the exterior coating of bitumen will be absorbed into the pores ol the blocks the bitumen solidifies, due to the fact that the coeliicient of eXpansion of the bitumen is greater than that of the blocks or bricks, and diie to the fact that the exterior coating of bitumen is retained at a temperature sufiiciently high to prevent its soliditication until it has been absorbed into the pores ot the blocks.

Blocks treated by my present improved method will, when cooled, not stick together, and the output will be largely increase owingr to the fact that after one set of blocks has been immersed, another set may be immersed without delay.

ln the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an apparatus adapted to carry into eflect my improved method, Figure l is a vertical longitialinal view partly in section and partlv in elevation of the immers ing chamber. the tank for supplying the same with liquid filling material and parts connected therewith, Fig. '2 is an enlarged vertical sev'tional view on the line QMZ of Fig. l. the car loaded with blocks being (unitted. Fifi'. ii if an enlarged vertical sec tion on the line Sl Y?? ot Fis, l. Fill. 4 is a reduced licwiwontal sectional view of the imn'iersing. pre-heatin1y and cooling chambers and some ot" the parts connected therewith. Vig. is at. rnlrried cr section on the line Fir-. it Fia'. 0', Vizi. :s a vertical seeyial virrf on thi.l lim ffm-t3 oi' Figi.

Similar rei. :hare-.eters designate similar parts' in the ditiierent views.

The chamber in which the blf'cks are immersed comprises a horizontal metal cylinder l having its inner end closed and provided at it?, outer end with a swinging door '-\'l,..ch is preti ably hinged at its upper edge :inni ia adapted to be swung: upwardly to the open position by means of a suitable block and tai-'kie Il. Fign 1. The door 2 is provided with suitable clamping devices 4 tor holdiin: it lightly closed daring the immer-sil 5 operation. A track 5 extends lonritudinaliy into the iinmersing:r cylinder l and provided with two branches G and 7,

which extend respectively into a pre-heating,r chambei S and a coo-ling or tempering` chamber 9, Fig. 4.

The blocks 10 to be treated are mounted upcn cars, one of which, designated by 11, is shown in the immer-sing cylinder 1, mounted on the track Doors 12 and 13 are provided for closing the ends respectively of the preheating chamber 8. Doors 1-1 and 15 are provided for respectively closing the ends of the cooling chamber 9.

The immersing cylinder 1 is mounted in a furnace 1G, which is provided in its lower portion with a horizontal longitudinal Hue 1T, which discharges upwardly between a plurality of parallel horizontal transverse baffling members 18 and against the under side of the cylinder 1.

lvlountcd in the furnace 1G above the immersing cylinder 1 is a supply tank 19 which is adapted to contain the supply of bituminous material with which the blocks 1() are to be impregnated. The tank 1.() is supported upon transverse bars 20, the ends of which are supported by the walls of the furnace 16. and the middle portions of which may be supported by pillars 2l. mounted on the cylinder l.. Horizontal shelves extend longitudinally along the walls of the furnace 16 at opposite sides of and against thc cylinder 1 frim the rear end of the furnace to a point adjacent to the forward end of the cylinder 1. Shelves 221 extend lonzgituu dinally along` the walls of the furnace 1G at opposite. sides of and against the tank 1f) from the forward end of the furnace to a point adjacent to the rear cnd thereof.

A burner 2l discharges into the rear end of the tlue 17. The products of combustion from said burner pass forwardly through the flue 17, thence upwardly between the baffling members 18, thence forwardly to and around the forward ends of the shelves 2Q. thence upwardly and rearwardly over said shelves and against the tank 1f. thence re:.rwari`ll v to and around thc rear ende of the shelves Q3. and thence. forwardly above said shelves into the smoke slack 25 with which the furnace 16 provided. For supplcn'lenting the heat from the burner 2l, burners- 26 may be provided. These hui-ners are arranged to discharge rearwardly hetween the cylinder 1 and the tank 19 at the forward end of the furnace 16. For heating;r .the tank 19 interiorly. there are placed therein a plurality of steam pipe coils 27. one set of ends of which connect with a header and the other set of ends of which connect with a header Q5). The headers 2S and Q9 and the coils?? form a steam radiator. which is supplied with stea n1 by a steam pipe 3l). which connects with the header Q54 and with the boiler of a steam producer ill. which, preferably. discharges its gaseous products of combustion into the furnace 1G through a pipe 62. A pipe 33 is connected to the header 29 and to the boiler of the steam prcducer 31. For ascci-tainingr the temperature of the interior of the cylinder 1. it may have cvtendingr from the outside into it thermometers 34 disposed at suitable places. Thermometers 3.5 are similarly provided for the tank 19. The halliinzgr men'ibers 15 are preferably adinstable toward and trom cach other. those farthest from the burner 2l being spaced l'ai'ther apart than those nearer to said burner.

For tram-ferriner the liquid bitumen from the tank 1f 'li the innnersing cylinder 1, and lor returning the hiui'nen to the tank 1f a conducive ,in in connectrd to the lower side of the cjuinn'ler l and is provided with two branches 3T and in 'which are respectively connected to the lower .side and the upper .side of the mul-f .ISL Shut off valves 3S? and ll' are rf. peclix'ely located in the branches 55T and 5 .l\djacent to the innncrsing cylinder 1 is an air pump ,il ot' an` suitable type. Means arc provided by which thc pump l1 may exhaust air from thc cylinder 1 or force air into said c if'lindcr. :ay may be desired. For effecting three l'ueciinns l have provided the fallmvi dcsf ine'whanisn'i: The pump ll is g i l *with a vlinder lf2 in whirh is .noni. iw-calive piston 435. A\ conductor l 'mi to the upper side of the .-.nder l. and s priizvided with two branches i i cylinder lz* thereof. shut et? .sf l'lu lflaln'ii lt and a check provided with :i niosplnfre and www Irl and a elw-4": provided n itli niospheria l l a 'heck vi Si?? open to". valves lf and .23. der "2 cent to ita rc-A $37 and in respective, ends i3 are located a o?? valve 4f) rauch l5 iS open to the atz a shut olf valve "lle branch 16 is 3i aaien to the at ,seni orf valve 55 and '"1' valves 4S. and and the ie cylinli alias ...aust pipes pef'tively located v'i'hen it is depri lhe cylinder 1, vali cs 35i and "il are opened, irc closed. The piston lli is i upon which air 'will lle drawn from the '"viinder 1 through the mndm'tor lV and branch 15 into the pump erin fifi an-.l then dis charged lo i `flier i'hrou,jl the l'. ln pumpingr air nl'nlil'ii Yif) will lj'nwl! V into the cvlndei l. slm valves Il lll. 47@ 52 l. 55 and 'ne piston is re- .shut oil valves, 'H :,u.A sired to cvhan flic ll( oi' i. i all).

and the valve ciprocated, air will be drawn into the pump cylinder 42 through the branches 46 and 54 and discharged into the cylinder 1 through the branch 46 and conductor 44. Connected to the conductor 44 may be provided a pressuri.` gage 61 and a vacuum gage 62 by which the alr pressure in the cylinder 1 may be determined.

For the purpose of determining the level of the immersing liquid in the immersing cylinder 1, there may be provided a {ioat 63 having a vertical upwardly extending st em 64 vertically movable in the conductor 44 and adapted to enter the transparent extension 65 with which the conductor 44 is provided.

Below the chambers 8 and 9 respectively are two longitudinal flues 67 and 66 respectively, which respectively discharge upwardly between baffling members 68, corresponding to the baffling members 18, into the pre-heating chamber 8 and cooling chamber 9. Discharging respectively7 into one set of ends of the fines 67 and 66 are burners 69 and 70. A discharge conductor 71 having rotatively mounted in it an exhaust fan 72 has two branches 73 and 74 which respectively connect to the upper parts and right hand ends, as viewed in Fig. 6 and Fig. 4 of the chambers 8 and 9. In the branches 73 and 74 are respectively mounted two swinging dampers 7 and 76, which respectively control the amount of air drawn from the chambers 8 and 9 'by the exhaust fan I72. By proper control of the burners 69 and 70 and ofthe dampers 7 5 and 76. temperatures respectively suitable for the purposes of the pre-heating chamber 8 and cooling chamber 9 may be provided. The track 5, where it enters the immersing chamber removable rail sections, be removed to permit opening of the door 2.

In the operation of my invention, the door 12 is opened and cars, corresponding to the car 11, loaded with the blocks 10, which are to be treated. are run on the track 6 into the pre-heating chamber 8. This chamber may be retained at a temperature above the melting point of the filling material to be employed in impregnating the blocks. lVhen the blocks are heated to the desired temperature, the doors 13 and 2 are opened, and the cars carrying the blocks are run into the inunersing cylinder 1 upon the track 5. In the meantinic,-the burner 24 and the steam producer 31 have been operated s0 aS to heat the innnersing cylinder 1 to the proper temperature, and to heat the tank 19 sufiiciently to melt the filling material which is contained therein. lf the filling material is asphalt: the interior of the cylinder 1 and tank 19 will be heated above the melting point of the as- Fig. 4, which may of the closing and 1, is provided with two.

phalt, the door 2 having been closed and tightly clamped by means of the securing devices 4, which may be swinging bolts provided with nuts, such as are commonly provided for purposes of this kind. The pump 41 is then operated, in the manner hereinbefore described, to exhaust the air from the 'immersing cylinder 1. The shut- 0H valve 39 is then opened, thereby permitting the melted filling material to flow from the tank 19 through the conductor 36 and its branch 37 into the cylinder 1 until the blocks 10 in said cylinder are immersed. The valve 39 is then closed, and the pump 41 is operated to force air into the immersing cylinder 31. After a sufficient pressure has been produced in the cylinder 1, the valves 47 and 49 are closed. following which the blocks are permitted to remain in the cylinder 1 under pressure and immersed until their pores have been completely filled with the immersing liquid. The valve 40 is then opened and also the valve 49 and valves 55 and 59, and the pump 41 is again operated to pump air into the cylinder 1. The air pressure in said cylinder will force the liquid filling material from the cylinder l through the conductor 36 and branch 38 into the tank 19. After the cylinder 1 has been emptied of the liquid filling material, the door 2 is opened, the rail sections 77 put in place and the cars 11 loaded with the impregnated blocks 10 .are run over the branch track 7 into the cooling chamber 9, the door 15 thereof being opened for this purpose. After the cars have been run into the cooling chamber, the door 15 is closed` and the blocks are allowed to remain in the cooling chamber until the filling material has solidified. During this period of time, the temperature in the cooling chamber 9 is retained below the melting point of the fillingv material, and .at a point sufficiently high above atmospheric temperature to prevent the sudden cooling of the blocks and the consequent chilling of the in'ipregnating material which covers the exterior of the blocks. As the impregnating material gradually cools, it will, by reason of its coefficient of expansion being greater than that of the blocks, if such blocks are brick or similar material, contact to a greater extent than the blocks, whereby the coating of the impregnatingmaterial on the exterior of the blocks will be drawn into the pores of the blocks. so that when the blocks have been cooled sufficiently to solidify the impregnating material contained therein. the blocks `will not stick together but may be easily separated .after the door 14 has been opened and the cooling chamcars have been run out of the ber. lVhilc the cooling operation is being carried on, an instalment of pre-heated blocks may be undergoing immersion in the chamber l, and another set of blocks may be, at the same time, undergoing the preheating operation in the chamber 8. The operation may thus be made practically continuous, thereby efecting a great saving in fuel and time and a lai-,ee` increase in the output of the apparatus. By reason of the continuity of the chambers 8 and 9, the heat from thechamber 8 may be employed br conduction for assisting in heating the chamber 9.

Various modifications of my invention. within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from its spirit..

lVhat l claim is 1. The, method consisting in saturating a porous block with a substance having a greater coetiicient of expansion than the block and which is liquefied by heat and solidiiies at ordinary temperatures, and then gradually @railing the block at a temperature `below the melting point of the substance and above the ordinary atmospheric temperature. the cooling of the block heilig effected at substantially atmospheric pressure.

2. The method consisting,r in' forcing by pre1 ure greater than atmospheric into the 'pores of a porous block a substance liquefied by heat and which solidiiies at ordinary temperatures and has a greater coefficient of expansion than the block, and then grad.A ually cooling the block at a temperature below the melting point ot' the substance and above the ordinary atmospheric temperrn ture. the coolingr ot' the block being eil'ected at substantially atmospheric pressure.

Si. 'The method consistingr in saturating a porous block with liquid bitumen having a greater cml'licient of expansion than the block, and then gradually cooling!y the block at a temperature below the melting point of the bitumen and above ordinary atmospheric temperature. the cooling being' etfectcd at substantiallyY atmospheric pressure.

4. The method consistingf in Vtort-ingr into the pores of a porous block liquid bitumen having a greater coefficient of expansion than the block, and then gradually cooling the block at a ten'iperature below the melting point of the bitumen and above ordinary ati'nospheric tenqierature. the coolingr being effected at substantially atmospheric pressure.

.'i. Ther method consistingy in saturating a porous block with liquid asphalt having a coeilirient ot' expansion greater than the block. and then gradually cooliingr the block at a temlwrature below the melting point of the asphalt and above ordinary atmospheric temperature. the coolingbeing' etlected at substantially atmospheric pressure.

V. 'Vlhe method consisting: in forcingr liquid asphalt under pressure greater than atmospheric into the pores of a block having a coeiicient of expansion less than that of the asphalt, and then gradually cooling the block at a temperature below the meltingA point of the asphalt and above ordinary atmospheric temperature, the cooling being effected at substantially atmospheric pressure.

7. The method consisting in saturating a brick with liquid asphalt, and then gradually cooling the brick at a temperature below the melting point of the asphalt and above ordinary temperature. the coolingr being etfected at substantially atmospheric pressure. v.

,9. The method consisting' in forcing liquid` asphalt under pressure greater than atmospheric into the pores of a brick, and then graolually coolingr the brick at a temperature below the meltingpoint ot the asphalt and above ordinary temperature, the cooling being' effected at substantially atimospheric pressure.

9. The method consistingV in heating a poroiis block, then exhausting),r the air from the block, then forcing liquid bitumen havingia coeflicient of expansion greater than the block into the pores of the block. and then gradually cooling the block at a temperature below the melting point of the bitumen and above ordinary atmospheric ten'iperature, the cooling being effected at substantially atmospheric pressure.

l0. The method consistingr in heating a porous block` then exhaustingr the air from the block. then forcing liquid asphalt havimgr a coeticient ot' expansion greater than the block. into the pores oi the block and then gradually cooling." the block at a temperature below the melting point of the asphalt and above ordinary atmospheric temperature. the cooling" being' effected at substantially atmospheric pressure.

11. The method consisting in heating a ,orous block.y then exhausting.` the air from the block, then forcing,Y liquid bitumen under pre-1sure greater than atmospheric into the pores oi the block. the bitumen having a coeilir'ient of expansion greater than the block. and then gradually cooling; the block at a temperature below the meltingy point oli the bitumen and above ordinary atmospheric temperature, the cooling leingv eli'ected at substantially atmospheric pressure.

1;. The method consisting in heating a porous block.y then exhausting tl e air from the block. then forcingy liquid asphalt under pressure greater than atmospheric into the pores of the block, the asphalt havin`r a coelicient of expansion 1re-.iter than the block, and then gradually cooling the block at a temperature below the meltingr point of the asphalt and above ordinary atmospheric ten'iperature, the coolinrr being etl'ected at substantially atmospheric pressure.

13. The method consisting in heating a brick, then exhausting the air therefrom, then forcing liquid bitumen into the pores thereof, and then gradually cooling thel brick at a temperature below the melting 5 point of the bitumen and-above ordinaryatmospheric temperature, the cooling being effected at substantially atmospheric pressure.

14. The method consisting in heating a 1o brick, Athen exhausting the air therefrom,

then forcing liquid asphalt into the pores thereof, and then gradually cooling the brick at a temperature below the melting point of the asphalt and above ordinary at- CLAUD E. ULLER. 

